Circuit breaker



Jan. 8, 1924. 1,480,442

J. T. HECK CIRCUIT BREAKER l/VVE/VTR ,60% .M Jahn @H6-CZ.-

/1 TTORNEYS Jan. 8 1924.

1,480,442 J. T. HECK C IRCUIT BREAKER Filed June 9, 1922 2 Sheets-sheet 2' p Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

JOHN THOMAS HECK, OF HEDRICK, INDIANA.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed June 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMAS HECK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Hedrick, in the county of i Warren and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Circuit Breaker, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to a circuit controller and more particularly to a circuit controller subject to fluid pressure in a cylinder, whereby the circuit will be broken upon the pressure reaching a predetermined degree.

The invention is applicable for use generally on devices or plants employing fluid pressure as for example a tire pump, -a water pressure line, or the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a circuit controller of the indicated character improved in various particulars reiiecting practical considerations looking to the accuracy and quickness of operation of a novel circuit making and breaking element by causing it to snap to the respective positions to prevent sparking.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction characterized by the facility with which the parts may be produced and assembled and adjusted to suit varying pressures and having regard for simplicity and durability of construction.

The manner in which the above and other objects will be attained will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the draw* ings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a circuit breaker embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view with parts in sec tion indicated by the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3 3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal view of the cylinder and plunger and the plunger head for operating 'the circuit controlling device;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a modification in the arrangement of the spring-pressed plunger. v

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example a circuit controlling element 18 is mounted on an 1922. Serial No. 567,039.

insulating block 11 movable over a suitable base 10, the block being held in guides 12 secured by screws 13 or the like to the base 10. On the insulating block 11 is an insulating standard 14 provided with a binding post 15 for a conductor 16, said conductor extending from a terminal 17 to the forked rockable circuit controlling element 18. 0n the block 14 is a second terminal 19 for clamping a second conductor 20, the opposite end of which is secured by a clamp including a binding screw 21, said clamp being on a conductor Strip 22 secured to a head or block 23 of insulating material. The conductor strip 22 extends vertically at one side of a pendent extension 24 on the head 23 so that the fork at one side will contact with the insulating material at the extension 24 and at the opposite side with the conductor strip 22 for making or breaking the circuit thro-ugh said fork of the rockable element 18. The head 23 is on a plunger 25 having a piston 27 within a cylinder 26. The rockable element 18 is pivoted as at `28 .on a metallic 'bracket 29 on block 11 and it is subject to the pressure of a plate Spring 31 secured to the insulating block 11 as by.

screws 32, the upstanding insulating block 14 being preferably secured over the end of the said plate spring 31. The plate spring 31 tends to maintain the rockable element 18 in either position to which it may be rocked and the said spring tends to instantly throw the element 18 past its center to engage one of its fork arms with the conductor strip 22 or to contact the other of its fork arms against the insulating extension 24. When one arm of the fork of element 18 is in contact with the strip 22, thercircuit will be closed, and when the arm is against the extension 24 of block 23 the circuit will be broken.

The piston 27 is subject to the pressure in the cylinder 26, it being understood that the fluid in said cylinder is under the pressure in the line or pump to be controlled. A spring 33 is coiled about the plunger 25 between the piston 27 and a head 34 of the cylinder through which head the plunger 25 extends. In order to tension the spring 33 and determine the pressure at .which the head 23 will break the circuit move in the forked upper end of a standard 37 secured to the block 11. The spring 33 tends to draw the plunger 25 into the cylini il 1 n www "uxuw f l t la tt, lh, tra Il truand d lla than being resisted by the collar 35 bearing against the standard 37. In addition the block 11 may be adjusted in the guides 12 to determine the movement of the plunger 25 for operating the rockable circuit-controlling element 18. For the adjustment of the block 11 l secure thereto an adjusting strip 38 having the end thereof disposed vertically and formed With rack teeth 39 adapted to be engaged with an upstanding member 40 of a bracket 41 secured to base 10. The plate 38 is resilient so that said plate may be flexed to disengage the teeth 39 from the bracket 41 in adjusting the block 11. With the described construction the plunger '25 is free to move outwardly when the pressure in the cylinder 26 behind the piston 27 reaches a predetermined degree. Normally, one arm of the fork controlling element 18 Will be in contact With the strip 22. With the element 18 in contact with the strip 22 the circuit will be through the said strip 22, the element 18, the conductor 16, and the binding post 15, through the line Wire A to the electric motor or other pressure-developing means (not shown) the current returning through the return line Wire B to the terminal 19 and through the conductor 2O to the clamp 21 of strip 22. The plate spring 31, it will be observed, edects a quick break When the rockable element 18 is moved past the center by the head 23 of plunger 25 and sparking is prevented by reason of the instantaneous breaking of the circuit. The brushing action of the fork of the rockable element 18 maintains clean contact points.

llt Will be observed that the current does not pass through the plate spring 31 but only through the element 18 to the conductor 16. The adjustment of the spring 33 and the provision for adjusting the position of the block 11 and the rockable element 18 permit of the circuit controller being adapted to the desired pressure conditions and to the particular pressure apparatus in connection With which the device is emplaced.

@n the bracket 29 are stops 42 at opposite sides of the rockable element 18 to limit the throw of said element in either direction.

lin Figure 5 the cylinder 126 instead of a piston in fluid-tight contact with the Walls of the cylinder has a flexible rubber housing 44'surrounding the spring 133 coiled about the plunger 125. llhe housing 44 is clamped at one end by Washers 45, 46 and nut 47 and at its o posite end it has an out- Wardly directed ange 48 clamped by the cylinder cap or head 134. Thus, the housing 44 edects a Huid tight closure of the l raso,

cylinder 126, the inner end of the housing forming in effect a piston without fluid tight frictional contact with the Walls of uit what 1 would state in conclusion that While the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to. the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied Without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

1. A circuit controller including a rockable element, a slidable and adjustable insulating member mounting said element, a plunger subject to fluid pressure, means on said plunger to rock said element, and means to make or break an electric circuit by the rocking of said element; together With a spring acting on said rockable element to throw the same past the center of movement in either direction When said rockable element is moved to a given position by the movement of the plunger.

2. ln a circuit controller of the class described, a rockable element mounted on a slidable block, means to make or break a circuit by the rocking of said element, and spring means to effect a quick movement of said rockable element past its center in either direction.

a 3. In a circuit closer, a rockable element, means to make or break an electric circuit by the rocking of said element, a plunger subject to fluid pressure, a head on said plunger, a conducting member on said head adapted to contact with said rockable element for rocking the latter, said head presenting conducting and nonconducting surfaces adapted to contact respectively With said rockable element to make or break the circuit.

4. ln a circuit controller, a forked rockably mounted element, a plunger subject to fluid pressure, and a head on said plunger adapted to engage the fork of said element, said head having a conducting surface presented to one member of the fork, and a nonconducting surface presented to the opposite member of the fork.

5. ln a circuit controller, a forked rockably mounted element, a plunger subject to fluid pressure, and a head on said plunger adapted to engage the fork of said element, said head having a conducting surface presented to one member of the fork, and a non-conducting surface presented to the opposite member of the fork; together with spring means to instantaneously throw said rockable element past the center in either direction.

6. lin a switch, a plunger subject to fluid pressure, a rockable element, means to form an electric circuit in connection through said rockable element in one sition, and means on the plunger engagea le With said rockabl'e element, said means in one position of said rockable element serving to complete the circuit and serving in another po` sition of said rockable element to cause a break in the circuit between said rockable element and said means.

7. In a circuit closer, a forked rockable element, an anti-friction roller on said element, a spring' pressing against said roller and serving to instantly throw said element over the center, and means to rock said head on its pivot to permit said spring to act, said means presenting a conducting and a nonconducting surface adapted to respectively engage the arms of the fork.

8. n a circuit breaker, a base, an insulat ing block slidable on said base, coacting means on said block and o-n said base to hold the block in adjusted position on the base,

` and circuit-breaking means mounted on said block; together with a plunger subject to lfluid pressure, a spring opposing movement of the plunger by the fluid pressure, means to vary the tension of the plunger spring, and means on the plunger to operate said circuit breaking element.

9. A circuit breaker of the class described, including a forked rockable element, a binding post separated from said element and adapted to connect with the line Wires ofa circuit, a conductor section connecting one of said binding posts with said rockableelement, a reciprocating device adapted to rock said elements, said device presenting a conducting surface and a non-conducting surface adapted to engage respectively with the.

ment, a reciprocating device adapted to rockv said element, said device presenting a conductin surface and a non-conducting surface a apted to engage respectively with the arms of the fork of said element, and a conductor section connecting the other of said binding posts with the conducting surface of said reciprocating device; together with a spring pressing against said rockable device to instantly rock the same over the center of movement When said element is moved by said reciprocating device, the circuit being independent of said spring.

JoHN'THoMAs HECK. 

